Scholarships by Government

Many students in India quit their studies at school level or higher education level, as they are socially and financially weaker to afford their education. However, it is very important for students to know that the Government of India and the state governments can help them with their academic needs. Various types of scholarships by government help 10th, 12th, and college students to pursue their courses with confidence. Whether they have to do their graduation course or take up a professional programme, they can apply for these scholarships and support their education partially or completely.

Major Government-Provided Scholarships

Scholarships by government and various other incentive schemes encourage talented students to pursue further studies. While scholarships can be merit-based, they can also be need-based on some cases. The government also offers scholarships after 10th and 12th that are career-specific or college-specific. Let us share with you certain types of scholarships the Government of India offers. Check out the following list:

Major Government Scholarships

S. No.

Scholarship Name

Eligibility

National Scholarships

1.

Central Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students

Students with above 80th percentile of successful candidates in a 12thstream for a particular exam board, with family income less than Rs. 6LPA

2.

Scheme for Scholarship to Students From Non-Hindi Speaking States for Post Matric Studies in Hindi

Meritorious students at post-metric to PhD level; scholarships awarded based on an exam conducted by a board of education/university/voluntary Hindi organisation

3.

Scholarship Scheme for Students with Disabilities

Indian students with at least 40% disabilities certified per definition under Persons with Disabilities Act 1995

4.

Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir

J&K 12th-pass students pursuing professional courses outside the state and having parental income less than Rs. 6 LPA

External Scholarships

1.

Commonwealth Scholarships for the United Kingdom and New Zealand

Resident Indian students with a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree to do further study in the UK

Details of These Government Scholarship Schemes

Now that you know the various schemes of scholarships by government, let us give you some more details on them. This will help you judge your eligibility for the scholarship, as well as the suitability of the scholarship for your study purpose.

• Central Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students:

This scheme is designed by the government to support meritorious students financially. These students come from poor families that have joint income less than INR 6 lakhs per annum. The results of senior secondary exams are considered to award this scholarship. There are 82,000 scholarships awarded equally to girls and boys. They can use it to pursue graduate or postgraduate studies or to do professional courses like engineering or medicine.

Several boards in the country and several study streams are a part of this scheme of scholarships by government. Students receive INR 1,000 per month at graduation level for three years and INR 2,000 per month at post-graduation level. For professional courses, INR 2,000 is given when students are in 4th and 5th years. The scholarship is awarded for 10 months in one academic year.

• Scheme for Scholarship to Students from the Non-Hindi Speaking States for post Matriculation Studies in Hindi:

This scheme is started to encourage the use of Hindi language in non-Hindi-speaking states. It also ensures the availability of apt personnel for teaching and similar posts where Hindi usage is a need. Under this scheme, 2,500 scholarships are given for full-time study at any level post metric. However, it is essential to have Hindi as one of the subjects. Depending on a particular course, a student can receive INR 300 to 1,000 per month. State and UT administration implements this scheme.

• Scholarship Scheme for Students with Disabilities:

It is a scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Students with at least 40% disability are provided 500 scholarships. These scholarships by government range from INR 400 to 1,000 per month. These are given annually with the course fee reimbursement up to INR 10,000. In some cases, the accommodation facility is also provided to students.

• Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir:

This scheme involves 5,000 scholarships per year to encourage those J&K students who want to pursue higher studies outside their state. Students should have passed 12th standard from CBSE or their state board. They can pursue general degree courses or engineering/medicine courses under this scheme. While 4,500 scholarships are available for general degree courses, 250 are set for engineering courses and 250 for medicine courses. These scholarships cover their tuition fee, the cost of books, hostel fee, and other such charges.

• Commonwealth Scholarships for the United Kingdom and New Zealand:

Only Indian students residing in the country are eligible for these external scholarships by government. These scholarships cover the maintenance and other allowances, as well as tourist class, both-ways air passage fee for eligible students. The scholarship is available to graduate and postgraduate students for further study in the UK. The duration is 1 year in the case of post-graduation and 6 months clinical training/three years in the case of PhD. Students of humanities and social sciences should have scored a minimum of 60% marks in their last degree to apply for this scholarship. The same in the case of students of medicine, engineering and technology, science, or agriculture should be 65%.

• Scholarships offered by foreign countries:

Graduates and postgraduates can also take advantage of the fellowships and scholarships provided by foreign countries under varied programmes of cultural exchange and similar nature. These scholarships have different eligibility conditions and value, based on the specific offers by countries. These schemes are advertised on the website of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of HRD.

• Agatha Harrison Memorial Fellowship:

Under this scholarship, experienced PhD candidates can go for advanced research at St. Antony’s College, Oxford. The subjects/fields applicable include modern Indian studies in history, economics, and political science. These scholarships by government are awarded for 1 year in the first instance and may be extended for another year. The benefits include the stipend and other charges of 29,000+ pounds and both ways economy-class fare.

Other Educational Benefits Offered by Government

While the above-mentioned are the major scholarships by government, students can also receive Interest Subsidy (CSIS) on Educational Loans. These loans are offered under the Central Scheme of the Ministry of HRD, Government of India. Apart from this, the ministry also issues No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) Certificate. The Indian immigrants in Singapore, America, Canada, etc usually require this certificate. Thus, students should not think of quitting studies, as they have several financing options to their benefit.